With the Lavigna and Siena housing projects under construction near South Blosser Road, planning review has begun on the next phase of the area's development - more than 100,000 square feet of retail space.

The Santa Maria Planning Commission got an early look last week at the proposed Westgate Marketplace, a 132,380-square-foot commercial center to be built over three parcels and containing 12 retail buildings.

Developed by the Towbes Group of Santa Barbara, the project is meant to serve the hundreds of homes that are planned in the area - including the Lavigna and Siena communities.

Lavigna will include 142 single-family homes between Battles Road and Marsala Avenue, and Siena consists of 117 condos, roughly between Battles and Sonya Lane.

The marketplace is proposed for 13 acres along South Blosser Road between Battles and La Brea Avenue. The project is within the overall Blosser Southwest Specific Plan, which was last amended by the City Council in 2004.

The larger specific plan encompasses 115 acres north of Sonya Lane, east of A Street, west of Blosser Road and south of La Brea Avenue.

Access to the marketplace is proposed through driveways on Battles, Blosser and La Brea. Additionally, the city is being asked to allow a traffic signal on Blosser midway between Battles and La Brea so that drivers can easily access the center from Blosser with a left turn.

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City staff told the commission that a traffic signal would be logical, even though the city tries to avoid mid-block lights. As such, staff said they will recommend a condition on the project that the mid-block light as well as the existing lights at Battles and La Brea must be synchronized so that traffic flow is not disrupted.

Three of the commercial buildings are proposed to have drive-thrus - a Longs Pharmacy, a Starbucks and an undetermined third tenant.

Officials couldn't say anymore about potential tenants other than the largest anchor store, at 31,350 square feet, most likely will be a grocery store.

Commissioners Etta Waterfield and Rodger Brown both noted that they liked the look of the project, with Waterfield calling it “homey.”

The developer is proposing an updated western style for the buildings, using a variety of materials, such as stone, metal, wood and plaster, in earth tones.

The project is designed with seven of the buildings along the rear of the site and the remaining five closer to Blosser Road. Much of the parking is in the middle of the site.

However, staff noted the project does tie in with the pedestrian walkways that are part of the proposed housing that is expected to be built behind the marketplace project.

Just beyond the marketplace there is a proposal to build more than 300 modular homes in a development called Mattei's Landing. Michael Towbes of the Towbes Group, who is also developing Mattei's Landing, told the commission that project is still being evaluated.

The Westgate Marketplace is expected to be before the Planning Commission for a public hearing May 21. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 110 E. Cook St.

Malia Spencer can be reached at 739-2219 or mspencer@santa

mariatimes.com.

May 11, 2008